Good morning!
Politics play a huge part in our lives, but should we bring our beliefs into the workplace? It’s a big question for corporate leaders this year—and for good reason.
About 36% of U.S. workers say they would consider leaving their jobs if their CEO expressed political views they don’t agree with, according to a March survey from job search platform Indeed, conducted in partnership with the Harris Poll. That figure is even higher among younger employees, with 46% of 18 to 34 year olds, and 44% of 35 to 44 year olds saying they would leave if their chief executive’s views conflicted with their own.
“We spend a lot of our life at work, and politics is a very personal part of our life,” Kyle M.K., talent strategy advisor for Indeed, tells Fortune. “People wanting to separate from those that they would consider to be unhealthy, or views that what they would consider to be unhealthy or toxic, doesn’t surprise me.”
Political conversations seem to be a fact of workplace life, despite how awkward they can be. Around 43% of U.S. workers have heard colleagues talking about politics in the office, according to the survey. But 56% of employees say talking politics in meetings makes them uncomfortable—a number that climbs to 62% for women. And nearly one in five employees admit to avoiding coworkers with different political sensibilities.
This discomfort can lead to serious workplace disruptions—four out of 10 U.S. employees say politics have affected team morale, and that number grows even higher for younger workers.
Employers have to navigate the upcoming election with the utmost care. HR experts previously told my colleague Paige McGlauflin that when it comes to politics, companies should create a consistent company policy, train middle managers how to handle potential conflict, and set clear expectations around social media use. They also advised executives to be aware of how much weight their words really carry for employees.
But M.K. believes business leaders shouldn’t avoid the topic altogether. He advises discussing larger issues rather than specific politicians, and proceeding with the company’s values and mission in mind.
“A culture is really what makes or breaks a thriving work environment for each individual,” says M.K. “So leaders should be a little bit open to having these discussions and talking about their politics. Because we can’t ignore it.”
Emma Burleigh
emma.burleigh@fortune.com
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